President Donald Trump said NATO is making a “very foolish mistake” by refusing to help the U.S. as Israel Katz claimed Ali Larijani was killed in Israeli strikes.
That concludes today’s coverage of the escalating Middle East conflict. We will continue to monitor developments across Iran, the Gulf, and neighboring countries, including military strikes, diplomatic efforts, and global economic impacts. Check back for the latest updates as the situation unfolds.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf posted on X that “the Strait of Hormuz situation won’t return to its pre-war status,” offering no further details.
The warning comes amid heightened tensions after U.S. President Donald Trump urged other countries to deploy naval forces to secure the strategically vital waterway.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has confirmed that Basij force commander Gholamreza Soleimani was killed in what it described as an “attack by the American-Zionist enemy,” according to Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim news agency.
Soleimani, who led the Basij for six years and oversaw internal security operations, was credited by the IRGC with modernizing the Basij’s structure, supporting social programs, and assisting vulnerable communities.
The statement called the killing a “cowardly assassination” and emphasized the Basij’s role in ongoing military operations against US and Israeli forces.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has responded to the resignation of U.S. National Counterterrorism Centre director Joe Kent, describing it as part of a “rising number of voices” among U.S. and European officials opposing the war on Iran.
Araghchi reposted Kent’s resignation letter on social media, saying that more members of the international community should follow suit and warning that the “wave of global repercussions has only begun and will hit all – regardless of wealth, faith, or race.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday (17 March) that around 200 Ukrainian air defence specialists are currently in the Middle East helping counter Iranian drone attacks.
Speaking at the British Parliament during a visit to the United Kingdom, Zelensky said the widespread use of relatively cheap attack drones had fundamentally changed modern warfare.
He noted that an Iranian drone costs roughly $50,000, while missiles used by the United States and its allies to intercept them can cost around $4 million each.
Johann Wadephul, Germany’s foreign minister, said on Tuesday (17 March) it was unrealistic to expect a controlled regime change in Iran and warned that the conflict could not be resolved through military means alone.
Speaking alongside his French counterpart in Berlin at an event hosted by ZEIT, Wadephul said chaos in Iran would not serve the interests of the region or the Iranian people.
“There will be no military solution,” he said, adding that the idea of a managed political transition in Tehran was “not realistic.”
Rocket and drone attacks targeting U.S. diplomatic sites in Iraq resumed on Tuesday (17 March), according to security sources.
Rockets and an explosive drone struck near the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, triggering warning sirens and an explosion near the compound.
At least three explosive drones also targeted a U.S. diplomatic facility near Baghdad International Airport, activating C-RAM air defence systems.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
A diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, Anwar Gargash, said on Tuesday (17 March) that the country could join an international effort led by the United States to ensure the safety and security of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking during an online event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations, Gargash said the UAE does not currently have active talks with Iran.
U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday that while the United States is not ready to end its military operation in Iran yet, Washington plans to withdraw “in pretty much the very near future,” signalling a possible shift in U.S. involvement in the conflict.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he was disappointed with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, adding that the U.S.-UK bilateral relationship had been strong before Starmer took office.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced on Tuesday that he will visit several countries across the Middle East to push for an end to the ongoing war involving Iran.
Speaking in Ankara, Fidan said he plans to share Türkiye’s views on achieving lasting peace in the region, underscoring Ankara’s diplomatic engagement amid escalating conflict.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday framed the resignation of the director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Centre as a positive development, saying it was “a good thing he is out” after the official publicly questioned the threat posed by Iran.
Donald Trump said NATO is making a “very foolish mistake” by declining to assist the United States in efforts related to the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking on Tuesday, Trump criticised allies’ reluctance to get involved in operations aimed at unblocking the key oil transit route, while also reiterating that Washington ultimately does not need their support.
Scandinavian Airlines said it will cancel a number of flights in the short term due to a sharp and sudden rise in fuel prices, as escalating tensions linked to the Iran conflict push up global energy costs.
The carrier had already announced temporary fare increases last week, citing higher jet fuel expenses driven by the war and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments.
Donald Trump said most NATO countries have indicated they do not want to be involved in the U.S. military operation in Iran.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Washington had been informed of allies’ reluctance, adding that due to what he described as U.S. “military success,” the country no longer “needs” or desires NATO assistance.
More than 36,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced in the West Bank over the past year due to Israeli settlement expansion and rising settler violence, the United Nations said Tuesday.
The report also cites a sharp increase in attacks since the 2023 Gaza war and warns the scale of displacement could amount to forcible transfer. Israel, which disputes the findings, said it is preparing a response.
Donald Trump said on Tuesday, the United States no longer “needs, or desires” assistance from allies in NATO, signaling a sharp shift in tone toward the transatlantic military alliance.
Mexico is open to hosting matches involving Iran national football team at the 2026 World Cup if world governing body FIFA approves the move, President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Tuesday.
Speaking amid growing geopolitical tensions, Sheinbaum said Mexico would have “no problem” staging Iran’s games, after the country’s football federation formally requested that its fixtures be relocated from the United States.
France will not participate in any military operations aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz while active hostilities continue, President Emmanuel Macron said today, underscoring Paris’s position of non-involvement in the current conflict.
“We are not party to the conflict,” he stated, emphasising that this status precludes any direct role in efforts to “open or liberate” the strategically vital waterway under present conditions.
The Israeli military says intelligence indicates Hezbollah has 'expanded preparations' to launch rocket barrages at Israel in the coming hours, raising fears of intensified fighting along the Lebanon border.
Joseph Kent, director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Centre, resigned in protest over the U.S.–Israel war in Iran.
In a letter to President Donald Trump posted on X, Kent said “Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation,” challenging the administration’s justification for the conflict.
An Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip killed at least three people, including a child, local health authorities reported Tuesday.
Medics said the strike targeted a vehicle in western Khan Younis, wounding 12 others.
Lufthansa has extended its suspension of flights to Tel Aviv through 9 April, citing ongoing air traffic restrictions in the Middle East, the airline said Tuesday.
Flights to Riyadh are also suspended through 5 April for operational reasons, though ITA Airways will continue its scheduled services to the city.
British Airways has cancelled flights to several Middle East destinations due to the ongoing regional conflict.
Flights to Amman, Bahrain, Dubai, and Tel Aviv are suspended through 31 May, while flights to Doha are halted until 30 April, with a limited schedule operating until the end of May, the airline told AFP.
Spain has approved the release of up to 11.5 million barrels of oil reserves over 90 days to ease supply shortages caused by the partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Energy Minister Sara Aagesen said Tuesday.
One Lebanese soldier was killed and four wounded in an Israeli airstrike in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon, the army said. One of the wounded later died.
Israel says it targets Hezbollah, not Lebanese forces, as the conflict escalates. Israeli attacks have killed over 880 people and displaced more than 1 million.
Poland will not send troops to Iran, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Tuesday, stating the conflict does not directly threaten Polish security.
He added that the U.S. and other allies understand Warsaw’s decision.
Tusk confirmed this applies to land, air, and naval forces, which Poland continues to build up in response to tensions along the Ukraine border. He emphasised that securing the Baltic Sea remains a top priority.
Iran’s Intelligence Ministry announced it has confiscated hundreds of Starlink satellite internet systems, claiming they were smuggled into the country by the U.S. and Israel, according to Tasnim News Agency.
The ministry said it will continue to track down all illicit Starlink terminals, labeling their use a crime punishable with the severest wartime penalties, particularly for anyone “connected to or acting on behalf of the enemy.”
Oil tankers are starting to move through the Strait of Hormuz, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett told CNBC on Tuesday, calling the flow a “dribble.”
He said the Trump administration expects the Iran conflict to last weeks, not months.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Russia is benefiting from the ongoing U.S.–Israel–Iran tensions, warning that the conflict could indirectly strengthen Moscow’s war effort.
Speaking to journalists in Germany after a closed-door meeting with his Greek counterpart, Giorgos Gerapetritis, on Tuesday, Wadephul called for de-escalation in the Middle East but stressed that the war in Ukraine remains a top security priority.
He said, "We must not forget that the situation in Ukraine remains our absolute security priority. Russia is a beneficiary of the current crisis. Russia is benefiting from higher oil and gas prices, which are filling its war coffers."
Wadephul warned that increased revenues could enable Russia to sustain its military campaign, which he said shows no signs of ending.
He also raised concerns about maritime security, noting that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is not guaranteed. He added that Europe needs to work closely with partners and also stressed that if the U.S. military cannot secure the strategic waterway, Europe would struggle to do so.
Iraeli air strikes on residential buildings in Lebanon have raised concerns under international law, the U.N. human rights office said on Tuesday.
Spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan told reporters: “Israeli air strikes have destroyed entire residential buildings in dense urban environments, with multiple members of the same family, including women and children, often killed together.”
He added: “Such attacks raise concerns under international humanitarian law.”
Iran’s ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, has denied reports that the country’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, is receiving medical treatment in Moscow, TASS news agency reported on Tuesday.
The claims were published over the weekend by Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida, which said the 56-year-old had been moved to Russia following a U.S.-Israeli airstrike that killed his father, allegedly at the personal invitation of President Vladimir Putin.
The Kremlin has declined to comment on the report.
India has denied holding any discussions with Iran over the release of three vessels, a spokesperson for the country’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday.
Iran has called on the international community to condemn U.S. and Israeli attacks, linking them to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that such disruptions “cannot be addressed independently of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran,” according to his Telegram account.
Araqchi also urged states and institutions responsible for global peace and security to speak out against the attacks, highlighting Tehran’s demand for international action.
The war in Iran could push an additional 45 million people into acute hunger by June, the World Food Programme (WFP) has warned.
Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau said rising food, oil, and shipping costs mean the global total of people facing severe hunger could exceed the current record of 319 million.
“The situation is extremely concerning. The conflict in Iran has global consequences for food security,” Skau added.
Israel’s Minister of Defence, Israel Katz, says Ali Larijani, Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary, has been killed.
In a statement, Katz says he was just informed of the top Iranian security official's death following Israeli strikes overnight.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan condemned the expanding military operations in Lebanon. Türkiye has called for an immediate de-escalation of attacks by Israel.
"Israel intends to drag Lebanon once again to a humanitarian disaster and lasting political instability," Fidan said in a statement to journalists on Monday. He urged the international community to act without delay in the face of the "war crimes Israel continues to commit."
Lebanon was pulled into the conflict between Israel, the U.S., and Iran two weeks ago when Hezbollah launched rockets and drones into Israel in retaliation for the assassination of Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader in February 2026 by a joint U.S.-Israeli airstrike in Tehran on February 28. Israel has justified its attacks on Lebanon as a necessary response to those strikes, which effectively ended a 2024 ceasefire agreement.
According to a report by the BBC, at least 886 people, including 111 children, have been killed since Israel launched its offensive on March 2. One million others have been displaced, according to Lebanese authorities.
Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek has raised concerns over the impact of the ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran war on the global economy, warning of a potential recession if the conflict continues to destabilise critical energy corridors.
Speaking on Türkiye's Akit TV on Monday night, Şimşek stressed that the war, which occurs in one of the world's most critical energy and trade corridors, is taking a toll on the global economy as crude oil prices reach record highs.
He noted that the region supplies nearly 20% of global oil, and any sustained supply chain disruption could have dire consequences for world economies. He explained that, "If oil price hikes remain permanent, they could negatively impact global inflation significantly."
According to the Minister, Brent crude prices have surged more than 40% compared to their pre-war closing levels. Natural gas prices in Europe have jumped over 56%, while jet fuel costs have increased by more than 80%. Şimşek emphasised that a prolonged war brings risks of global inflation, tighter financial conditions, and potential recession.
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Israel's military has targeted Iran's security chief Ali Larijani, four Israeli officials said, adding that it was not immediately clear whether he was killed or injured.
Larijani was one of the targets of strikes carried out by the Israeli military last night across Iran, the officials told Reuters.
Iran has not yet commented on the report.
If his death is confirmed, he would be the most senior Iranian official to be killed after the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died on the first day of the war.
Larijani, a former nuclear negotiator and a close ally of Khamenei, was seen in Tehran on Friday taking part in Quds Day rallies.
Later that day, the U.S. offered a reward of up to $10 million for information on senior Iranian military and intelligence officials, including Larijani, as part of a list of 10 figures linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Multiple Israeli media outlets also said the strikes targeted Gholamreza Soleimani, the head of the Basij Resistance Force and other senior Basij figures, with the outcome of the strikes still being assessed.
Middle East crude oil and the cost of purchasing an insurance policy have reached record highs recently. The crude from this region has now become the most expensive in the world, with insurers benchmarking prices as high as 5% of the value of the vessel as a price tag. This price increase has been attributed by stakeholders in the industry to the conflict in the region. The volatility, especially within the Strait of Hormuz, which provides passage for about one-fifth of the world's crude oil, is responsible for this.
For insurance, a vessel worth about $100m will be looking at an insurance policy of about $5m. Businesses buying this crude oil will now have to pay this much, especially if the vessel will be navigating through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to a report by Reuters, Cash Dubai was assessed at a record $153.25 per barrel on Monday for May-loading cargoes, surpassing Brent futures’ LCOc1 all-time high of $147.50 in 2008, while Oman crude futures hit a record of $147.79 a barrel.
While Middle East crude exports to Asia fell to 11.665 million barrels per day this month, down from nearly 19 million per day in February before the war started and about 32 per cent lower than in March 2025.
The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation has announced a $20 billion reinsurance programme to help revive shipping through the Hormuz Strait. President Trump’s push to help secure the waterway has not been met with enthusiasm from allies.
Missiles were seen streaking across the night sky over Jerusalem and Bethlehem on Tuesday, March 17, as Iran continues their barrage of missile and drone attacks on Israel.
Tehran has continued retaliatory attacks following strikes by the United States and Israel. Israeli air defence systems, the Iron Dome, have been activated to intercept the barrage of incoming missiles from Iran.
Hostilities in the region have escalated since Israel and the US launched joint attacks on Iran on February 28. The attack targeted and killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has now been replaced by his son Mojtaba Khamenei.
Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.
Thailand's foreign minister, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, confirmed that Thailand is actively pursuing new energy partnerships, most notably with Russia, to safeguard the nation's fuel security as conflict in the Middle East destabilises energy supply routes.
While the minister said Thailand can sustain fuel supply from reserves for a 95-to-100-day period, he emphasised that the government is moving to diversify its sources to mitigate the high uncertainty of ongoing regional fighting.
Minister Sihasak revealed that Russia has already expressed readiness to sell oil to Thailand, marking a significant potential shift in the kingdom's energy procurement strategy.
This move comes as the United States relaxes certain sanctions on oil-bearing vessels, easing the path for Thailand to engage with a broader range of suppliers, including Brazil, Nigeria, and Kazakhstan.
A man from Pakistan has died after sharpnel fell to the ground during a ballistic missile interception in Abu Dhabi, the emirate's media office said in a post on X. The man was struck in the Bani Yas area on the western edge of the city.
Speaking to the Financial Times, IMO chief Arsenio Dominguez said naval escorts through the Strait of Hormuz will not "100 percent guarantee" the safety of ships attempting to transit the waterway.
Military assistance was "not a long-term or sustainable solution" to opening up the strait, he added.
His remarks come as the U.S. pushes to form a coalition of countries to help ships safely sail through the waterway.
The blaze was caused by falling debris after a missile was destroyed, Qatar's Minister of Interior said in a post on X. The nation's Civil Defense force are battling the fire.
Iran's Football Federation is in discussions with FIFA about moving their World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico due to concerns about the safety of players, Iranian football president Mehdi Taj said on Monday.
Iran's Sports Minister said last week it was not possible for Iranian players to participate in the tournament after the U.S. launched airstrikes alongside Israel against Tehran. President Trump reacting to the decision, said it was 'not appropriate' for the Iranian team to participate in the World Cup for their own life and safety.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino had also said last week that Trum told him the Iranian team would be welcomed in the United States.
Marco Rubio told his South Korean counterpart that coordination between nations to ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz was more important than ever in a conversation on Monday (17 March).
Seoul's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun later declined to say whether Washington had asked South Korea to deploy a naval ship to the strait, despite intense questioning by members of parliament, some of whom suggested such a move could breach domestic laws.
"The question of how we're going to respond to an ally's demand is a very important one," Cho said. "As we make a decision, I assure you we will act according to the constitution and the law," he told a parliament committee hearing.
Donald Trump was warned that launching strikes on Iran could result in Gulf allies, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, being targeted by Tehran, a U.S. official and two sources with U.S. intelligence reports told Reuters on Monday (16 March).
The President said twice on Monday that Iran’s retaliatory strikes against Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait were a surprise, the first time at a Kennedy Center board meeting in the White House.
"They (Iran) weren’t supposed to go after all these other countries in the Middle East," he said. "Nobody expected that. We were shocked," he said.
A tanker has been struck by a projectile while at anchor east of the UAE's city of Fujairah, according to the UK Royal Navy's maritime security authority. No crew sustained injuries and only minor structural damage was reported, UK Maritime Trade Operations said. There was no environmental impact reported.
Multiple rockets and at least five drones were fired at the U.S. Embassy in the Iraqi capital, according to Iraqi security sources.
A witness told Reuters that one of the drones struck inside the embassy compound, from which fire and smoke could be seen to be rising. A further two drones were shot down by a C-Ram air defence system, the witness added.
Iranian backed militias have been attacking Washington's interests in Iraq in retaliation for U.S. strikes on Iran which began on February 28.
Iraqi security forces have been deployed across parts of the capital and have closed Baghdad's fortified Green Zone, which houses government buildings and diplomatic missions including the U.S. Embassy.
A senior Iranian military officer warned that American troops will become &lsq...
Cuba and the United States have been at odds for more than six decades, with tensions rooted in the 1959 revolution that transformed the island&rsq...
Russian drone attacks on Ukraine have killed four people, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday (28 March). ...
The four astronauts selected for NASA’s Artemis II mission have arrived in Florida, entering the final phase of...
More than 372,000 people were left without electricity in Russia’s southern region of Dagestan after heavy rain triggered severe flooding, of...
A senior Iranian military officer warned that American troops will become ‘food for sharks’ on Sunday if the U.S. launches a ground offensive in Iran. The threat came as contingents of U.S. Marines began to arrive in the Middle East, with thousands expected to be deployed in the region.
Cuba and the United States have been at odds for more than six decades, with tensions rooted in the 1959 revolution that transformed the island’s political and economic system. Renewed focus on relations comes as Donald Trump’s rhetoric intensifies and conditions on the island worsen.
Russian drone attacks on Ukraine have killed four people, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday (28 March).
The four astronauts selected for NASA’s Artemis II mission have arrived in Florida, entering the final phase of preparations for the first crewed journey towards the Moon in more than five decades
The involvement of Yemen’s Houthis has heightened regional tensions as the Iran-aligned group joins the conflict. The U.S. says it is hopeful of holding talks with Iran in the coming days, while Tehran has said that "talking and bombing is intolerable". Welcome to our live coverage of the conflict.
Cuba and the United States have been at odds for more than six decades, with tensions rooted in the 1959 revolution that transformed the island’s political and economic system. Renewed focus on relations comes as Donald Trump’s rhetoric intensifies and conditions on the island worsen.
The four astronauts selected for NASA’s Artemis II mission have arrived in Florida, entering the final phase of preparations for the first crewed journey towards the Moon in more than five decades
Iranian Military Spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ibrahim Zulfiqari has warned that American soldiers will become 'food for sharks' if U.S. President Donald Trump launches ground attacks against Iran. The threat comes after the U.S. military said it was deploying thousands of Marines to the region.
China is moving ahead with plans to establish a nationwide long-term care insurance system, aimed at supporting its rapidly ageing population and easing the financial burden on families caring for elderly relatives.
More than 372,000 people were left without electricity in Russia’s southern region of Dagestan after heavy rain triggered severe flooding, officials said.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said his government will absorb a 56bn-rupee fuel subsidy to shield people from rising energy costs linked to the Middle East conflict.
The involvement of Yemen’s Houthis has heightened regional tensions as the Iran-aligned group joins the conflict. The U.S. says it is hopeful of holding talks with Iran in the coming days, while Tehran has said that "talking and bombing is intolerable". Welcome to our live coverage of the conflict.
AnewZ has released the official trailer for its upcoming original documentary, Halfway Across, an investigation into the systems behind illegal migration.
Hamas would have to allow its vast network of tunnels in Gaza to be destroyed as it gives up its weapons over eight months, under a disarmament plan drawn up by the U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace.
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